Groundhog Manitoba Merv Calls for an Early Spring

Manitoba Merv pops his head out to predict an early spring. (OAK HAMMOCK MARSH)

In what may seem like a gifted winter with these mild temperatures lately, it’s about to get a whole lot better.

Manitoba Merv — the province’s unofficial groundhog — didn’t see his shadow Thursday morning at Oak Hammock Marsh just north of Winnipeg. That means we’re in store for an early spring.

“He looked and looked and looked some more but no shadow was seen,” the Marsh said.

However, Willow the Woodchuck at The Forks called for six more weeks of winter after making her prediction shortly after 8 a.m.

In the U.S., Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania also predicted winter will stick around a while longer, but the decision didn’t come without controversy. People started booing Phil, as the only lights present were from TV cameras.